Serial rapist Robert John Fardon was allowed to visit sex clubs while under strict government supervision - as a court rules he can now be released WITHOUT monitoring leaving former victims in fear
- Robert John Fardon visited 'day spas' for men while under supervision
- The visits were to allow the 70-year-old to satisfy his sexual needs
- He was released into the community after two judges lifted his restrictions
- The State Government lost its bid to keep him under constant supervision
- He can now live where he chooses without GPS trackers or curfews
- One of his victims says she is terrified of running into him
Serial rapist Robert John Fardon was allowed to visit sex clubs while he was under strict government supervision in order to 'meet his sexual needs'.
Supreme Court Justice Helen Bowskill mentioned the visits when she decided to lift Fardon's restrictions, including where he lived, last week, The Courier Mail reported.
Ms Bowskill said the 70-year-old was granted permission to visit a male 'day spa' so that he could meet his sexual needs and had no adverse experiences in doing so.
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Notorious child rapist Robert John Fardon has been released into the community
While Queensland Corrective Services are yet to elaborate on what the 'day spa' actually was, it's thought the judge was referring to male sex-on-premises venues.
There was also no information provided about whether or not there had been any safeguards put into place during each of Fardon's visits to the venues.
A spokesperson for the department told the publication: 'For privacy, safety and security reasons, it would not be appropriate for QCS to disclose ... specifics.'
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Despite warnings Faldon wasn't 'cured' of his urges, he was released after the Queensland government lost its final bid to keep him under constant supervision.
Two Queensland judges last week found the 70-year-old should be allowed to live unsupervised in the community and lifted the restrictions.
The decision was delivered in a closed court and was suppressed from the media in order to make Fardon's transition into everyday life easier, Justice Bowskill said.
The order was made public on Wednesday morning.
'I am not satisfied that the evidence establishes to the requisite high degree of probability that the respondent is a serious danger to the community in the absence of a further supervision order,' it reads.
Lawyers for the attorney-General argued additional supervision would reduce Faldon's risk of re-offending, but Justice Bowskill said in the event of a stressful situation, it was unlikely he would react.
Faldon is now free to live wherever he chooses, and is also not subject to electronic monitoring, curfews or mandatory counselling.
He is now free to live wherever he chooses, and is also not subject to electronic monitoring, curfews or mandatory counselling
But the 70-year-old will remain monitored for the rest of his life after the state government last year rushed through law changes as a backup plan.
One of Faldon's child rape victims is now said to be living in fear after she heard the news of his release back into the community, The Courier-Mail reported.
Sharon Tomlinson, who was just 12 years old at the time, said the court-enforced one-week suppression order made her feel as though she was protecting Faldon.
Ms Tomlinson said when she found out the 70-year-old wouldn't be wearing a GPS tracker it made her feel uneasy about running into him again.
'It's so frightening that I could run into him on a train, in a shopping centre. I have to be super vigilant,' she said.
'The survivors have been given a life sentence and we will never feel safe until he is dead.'
The 70-year-old's restrictions, including limitations on where he can live would be lifted
Sharon Tomlinson (pictured) is one of the alleged victims of serial rapist Robert Fardon
Faldon was first convicted in 1967, then aged 18, for sexual abuse offences against a 10-year-old girl.
In 2003 he became the first person to be jailed in Queensland indefinitely under new laws targeting repeat sex offenders.
The State Government made a case to the Brisbane Supreme Court in November to extend Fardon's classification as a dangerous prisoner.
Its argument was in contrast to three psychiatrists who said he posed a low risk of carrying out more crimes and should not stay under the state's watch.
Fardon's release means he is now automatically placed under new child sex offender laws that were passed in September.
'This means police will know where Fardon lives and travels, details of his phone and internet connections, social media accounts, interactions and passwords for the rest of his life,' Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said on Wednesday.
His release comes as the State Government lost their final bid to keep the serial sex offender under constant supervision
Authorities will also know if he changes his appearance, including if he gets a tattoo.
'If Fardon fails to meet these reporting conditions, he could face five years in jail,' Ms D'Ath added.
There are no grounds for an appeal against the court's decision.
Fardon will not be automatically required to wear an electronic monitoring device, but police can apply to the court for specific orders which come with a device.
The state opposition wants him returned to jail.
'If (Labor) didn't play politics and adopted the LNP's proposed sex offender laws, this sadistic grub would still be under lock and key,' Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington tweeted.
'He is now free thanks to Labor.'
